the best way is DOING it. Reading books without actually coding is almost a waste of time
I could add this to my signature.
c++ Programming Game Programming, Where do I start?
Its my observation that using low to mid level language only truly benefits you if you understand the reason for using them in the first place.
Sure, C++ compilers make neat optimizations, but there is potential for so much more. Using high level languages we lose explicit control of many things, but we usually gain more bugfree and faster to produce code.
Like Dunge previously mentioned, Java, python or pretty much anything will suffice if you want to make a game instead of an engine. ( And why not suffice for an engine to a degree as well? ).
By choosing C++, we consciously accept more responsibility and "bother" from having to do stuff like explicit memory management because in return we can manipulate memory as we please and are free to interpret data as it fits the bill at any given moment. Naturally this won't give us Carte blanche to rummage about the memory, but still, much less restrictions are enforced than with Java.
If on the other hand we have no "deeper knowledge" of the underlying system, the performance gain ( although potentially significant ) given by the compiler alone, might not be worth all the extra work and hassle resulting from the implementation process.
Kinda like Dunge already said, Java is good and makes producing graphical stuff guite a bit easier. Thanks to shared C-syntax, I consider it a nice alternative for learning stuff before C++. At least quite a bit more motivating to begin with thanks to the ability to get stuff done with less problems.
Sure, C++ compilers make neat optimizations, but there is potential for so much more. Using high level languages we lose explicit control of many things, but we usually gain more bugfree and faster to produce code.
Like Dunge previously mentioned, Java, python or pretty much anything will suffice if you want to make a game instead of an engine. ( And why not suffice for an engine to a degree as well? ).
By choosing C++, we consciously accept more responsibility and "bother" from having to do stuff like explicit memory management because in return we can manipulate memory as we please and are free to interpret data as it fits the bill at any given moment. Naturally this won't give us Carte blanche to rummage about the memory, but still, much less restrictions are enforced than with Java.
If on the other hand we have no "deeper knowledge" of the underlying system, the performance gain ( although potentially significant ) given by the compiler alone, might not be worth all the extra work and hassle resulting from the implementation process.
Kinda like Dunge already said, Java is good and makes producing graphical stuff guite a bit easier. Thanks to shared C-syntax, I consider it a nice alternative for learning stuff before C++. At least quite a bit more motivating to begin with thanks to the ability to get stuff done with less problems.
Koenig & Moo "Accelerated C++".
Basically it's an intro to C++ that doesn't spend its time faffing about teaching you a bunch of C first and then having you unlearn all that stuff and learn the C++ way of doing things.
By chapters 5&6, it's already talking about list<>, map<> and other useful data structures.
That, a book on games development and a choose a nice base library so you don't reinvent the wheel (Lots of people seem to like and recommend Unity) and you should be well away.
Basically it's an intro to C++ that doesn't spend its time faffing about teaching you a bunch of C first and then having you unlearn all that stuff and learn the C++ way of doing things.
By chapters 5&6, it's already talking about list<>, map<> and other useful data structures.
That, a book on games development and a choose a nice base library so you don't reinvent the wheel (Lots of people seem to like and recommend Unity) and you should be well away.
Quote:Original post by szecs
the best way is DOING it. Reading books without actually coding is almost a waste of time
I could add this to my signature.
This.
Programming is a practical skill. The more time spent programming the better you will get. If you have a half decent book you will learn more by finishing all the exercises than you will by only reading half a dozen books of any quality.
Quote:Original post by szecs
the best way is DOING it. Reading books without actually coding is almost a waste of time
I could add this to my signature.
This.
You can read a ton of books on programming but nothing hits home like actually getting out into the trenches and actually making something.
Set yourself a goal of completing a game of your own making using a graphics API.
I learned more writing and figuring out on my own how to make a simple 2D game for the iPhone than any class I've taken or any book I've read.
WoW! Thats a lot of comments!
I've gone through engines. I dislike the unity GameEngine, I was looking at the Unreal Engine.
I would really dislike to have to use pyhton or java first, because from what I remember, I tried using them and they were just like 1 + 1 = 2 OH THanks lol.
I want a challenge. :P And I have already read a lot on c++. Just not the most I started wanting to learn how to code software when I was about 12. Now I am 16. I have been doing Html + css for a while. But thats barely even coding.
Thank you for all of the tips!!!!!! I bet I could get it going pretty well now :).
I need to work on what they said up there.
Pointers, Functions, Classes, Etc. :P
After I get all the basic functions memorized, I need to find a good reference book. And then learn some Graphics.
I'm not sure If I should do SDL or OpenGL First. Most definitely not DirectX lol.
I Haven't been testing and making goals of games to make or w/e with a reference or anything. Which would be a great Idea come to think of it :).
Thanks Again!
I've gone through engines. I dislike the unity GameEngine, I was looking at the Unreal Engine.
I would really dislike to have to use pyhton or java first, because from what I remember, I tried using them and they were just like 1 + 1 = 2 OH THanks lol.
I want a challenge. :P And I have already read a lot on c++. Just not the most I started wanting to learn how to code software when I was about 12. Now I am 16. I have been doing Html + css for a while. But thats barely even coding.
Thank you for all of the tips!!!!!! I bet I could get it going pretty well now :).
I need to work on what they said up there.
Pointers, Functions, Classes, Etc. :P
After I get all the basic functions memorized, I need to find a good reference book. And then learn some Graphics.
I'm not sure If I should do SDL or OpenGL First. Most definitely not DirectX lol.
I Haven't been testing and making goals of games to make or w/e with a reference or anything. Which would be a great Idea come to think of it :).
Thanks Again!
Quote:I would really dislike to have to use pyhton or java first, because from what I remember, I tried using them and they were just like 1 + 1 = 2 OH THanks lol.Your impression of Python and Java as 'just like 1 + 1 = 2' is incorrect.
In their own way, Python and Java are just as 'powerful' (a rather vague word that gets thrown around somewhat indiscriminately when talking about programming languages) as C++. To really determine what can be done using a particular language, you have to dig deeper than some introductory tutorials (which, for some languages, will use examples such as '1 + 1 = 2' for fairly good reason).
Or, you could look for existing games or other projects that were programmed in the language you're interested in, just to see what others have accomplished using that language.
In any case, I wouldn't be too quick to write off languages like Python and Java.
Quote:I want a challenge. :PProgramming and game development are challenging regardless of what tools and languages are used. If you want a challenge, pick a language (e.g. Python) and try to write a game using it. (It's true that writing the same game in C++ might be even *more* challenging, but that's not necessarily a good thing.)
If it's still C++ you want to learn my book reference suggestion which i still use especially on inheritance and polymorphism is "C++ For Programmers" it's a Deitel Developer Series book.
Python is simple (kinda), Java is similar to c++. :P
from what I have seen. But. well, I just really want to stick to one language. I went to learn c++, people said do Java, I do Java. People say do Python, I do Python People say do Java. And it just went in a cycle for a long time.
from what I have seen. But. well, I just really want to stick to one language. I went to learn c++, people said do Java, I do Java. People say do Python, I do Python People say do Java. And it just went in a cycle for a long time.
Quote:Original post by Jdfskitz
WoW! Thats a lot of comments!
I've gone through engines. I dislike the unity GameEngine, I was looking at the Unreal Engine.
I would really dislike to have to use pyhton or java first, because from what I remember, I tried using them and they were just like 1 + 1 = 2 OH THanks lol.
I want a challenge. :P And I have already read a lot on c++. Just not the most I started wanting to learn how to code software when I was about 12. Now I am 16. I have been doing Html + css for a while. But thats barely even coding.
Well, programming is hard enough as it is, you DON'T need more challenges, trust me. Here's another vote for Python.
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